Claire's voted top English player

Claire Taylor has been voted English women's cricket player of the year.

The 26-year-old Reading and England star collected the prestigious Fleming Premier Banking sponsored trophy at the Royal Albert Hall.

"I am very honoured as it is a players' player award and it is nice to be appreciated by your colleagues," she said.

Claire, who joined the England senior squad in 1998 added: "It has been a difficult a difficult year for the team but the character and spirit of our young side has been fantastic, and provided me with the chance to go and play some good innings."

The wicketkeeper/batsman scored 50 in a one-day international against Australia and then a magnificent 137 in the four-day test at Headingley after frustrating the Australian attack for 256 minutes.

Her previous Test best was 18 and she had gone into the game with an average of just five.

The other nominations for the Female Cricketer of the Year award were her namesake, England opening bowler Clare Taylor (Yorkshire) and England captain Clare Connor (Sussex).

Taylor, an Oxford cricket and hockey blue, is now preparing for England's tough tour to India in January.

Though no longer playing for them, the systems analyst keeps in close touch with Reading Hockey Club and was among the spectators at their two ladies' matches at Sonning Lane on Saturday.